Despite what many people think, your twenties are honestly the perfect time to be single. These are the years you are growing into your own person, adjusting to the new world of adulthood and being exposed to things you never have been exposed to before.

You are living on your own, exploring new cities, interacting with all different types of people — all while gaining new experiences. How are you supposed to fully invest in yourself during this time if you spend it preoccupied with someone else?

Of course, people won’t agree with me, but this is my personal outlook of what I learned by being single in my twenties. Hopefully you can relate.

1. Calling a guy nice should be a compliment rather than an insult

2. After a while, it’s not as bad as it’s perceived to be

3. Over-analyzing text messages is the quickest way to drive yourself crazy

4. The best response is typically no response

5. You always have to pay for dinner… even if it’s not in cash

6. Conversation is the most important factor

7. …Aside from sex

8. Just because someone loves you does not mean that person understands you

9. You should always be your number one priority, no matter how often your relationship status fluctuates

10. A steady rotation is never a bad thing

11. However, it gets really awkward when those in the rotation meet one another

12. It doesn’t matter how many pairs of flats you purchase, he will never get any taller

13. There are certain people who make better lovers than partners

14. If you go digging for dirt, you’ll find it and you’ll regret it every f*cking time

15. You can’t always listen to everyone’s advice, you have to go with your gut

16. Being positive will make you a happier person

17. Casual sex can and will be fun, but the eventual love making can be even better

18. Being independent or thrown into a tough situation is the best way to grow into yourself

19. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t like until you come into contact with it

20. Cry hard about something that upset you and never cry about the same thing again

21. It’s perfectly okay to stay in on the weekends with your best friend, watch “Law & Order” and complain about how single you both are

22. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me

23. Exercise for yourself not for someone else

24. Cheaters usually (always) repeat their mistakes

25. Don’t try and be someone you’re not

26. Do not cyber stalk the sh*t out of the other person before going on a date — getting to know the other person is the point of the date

27. Trying new things and having fun is the best way to figure out what it is that you want

28. Don’t purposely lead people on, it’s just cruel

29. It’s beyond beneficial to carry a mini hair brush in your purse on a night out, oh and concealer

30. There is nothing a Jimmy John’s sandwich can’t cure

31. Boys are not worth wasting a day’s makeup over

32. You discover who your die-hard friends are

33. Not every relationship you get involved in is going to be “the relationship”